By-Laws
CONSTITUTION
of the
EASTERN CONSTRUCTORS-STUDENTS OF EXCELLENCE
Article I
Name
Section A. This professional and social organization shall be known as the Eastern Constructors-Students of Excellence.
Section B. It's members shall be known as Constructors.
Article II
Purpose
Section A. To cultivate a favorable and mutually advantageous relationship between students and construction professionals.
Section B. To foster the student's understanding of current theories and procedures, encouraging them to adhere to the highest ideals and principles of the construction industry, and instill in them a professional attitude respective of the construction industry.
Article III
Membership
Section A. Active Membership
Active membership shall be limited to any male or female student currently enrolled at Eastern Michigan University.
Procedures for attaining active membership in the organization are outlined in the by-law.
Section B. Inactive Membership
A member holding inactive membership status shall be-
Ineligible to vote.
Ineligible to hold an office in the organization.
Ineligible to participate in any activities unless approved by the Executive committee.
Section C. Suspended Membership
A member holding suspended membership status shall be-
Ineligible to vote.
Ineligible to voice an opinion at meetings.
Ineligible to hold office.
Ineligible to wear an organization jacket, emblem, or anything associated with active membership in the organization.
Ineligible to attend activities.
Ineligible to enjoy any other rights and privileges associated with active membership in the organization.
Conditions under which suspension may take place are outlined in the By-Laws.
Article IV
Officers
Section A. Titles--The elected Executive Committee Officers of this organization shall be President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Sergeant-at-Arms. The elected Standing Committee Chairpersons are Alumni Relations, Financial, Public Relations, Recruitment, Scholarship and Social.
Section B. Election and Tenure
Nominations of officers to be elected shall be from the floor at the third to the last meeting of each school year. Members holding office at the time of nomination shall automatically for a succeeding term in that office.
Election of the officers shall take place at the next regularly scheduled meeting following nominations. A member shall be considered elected to office if he/she receives a majority vote of the members present and voting.
Tenure for the elected officers shall be one academic year.
Section C. Eligibility-Any member of the organization shall be eligible for any office provided that he/she-
Is in good standing with the organization.
Does not have two major offices. He/she may have a major and a minor office or two minor offices.
Section D. Filling of vacancies that occur during the semester shall be handled as follows-
The office of President shall be filled by the Vice-President.
For the remaining offices, the President shall, at the earliest possible date, order a special election for the purpose of filling the position. The members thus elected shall immediately enter upon the duties and shall hold office until the next regularly scheduled election.
Section E. Impeachment-The position for impeachment of any officer shall be presented to the President.
The petition shall contain a minimum of ten signatures, all of whom shall be active members.
The President shall present the written petition to the organization at the next business meeting.
The vote for impeachment shall be held at the first business meeting following presentation of the petition by the President.
A 2/3 vote of all the active members as listed in the Secretary book shall be necessary for removal.
Vacancies created by impeachment shall be filled following the procedures listed in Article IV, Section D. of the Constitution.
Section F. Duties of Officers
The President shall-
Preside at all regular and special meetings, call special meetings when necessary, and perform such duties as usually devolve upon a presiding officer.
Have power to appoint committees.
Have power to suspend a member if sustained by a majority of the active members as listed in the Secretary book.
Produce monthly activity calendar for members.
The Vice President shall-
Perform the duties of the President in his/her absence.
Coordinate guest speakers and field trips for the organization.
Accumulate all the organization members' resumes and produce a professional resume book.
Coordinate AGC of America National Convention arrangements.
The Treasurer shall-
Collect all dues and assessments and attend to all financial affairs.
Keep a written account of all funds received and accounts paid.
Be required to produce records at any regular meeting.
Be responsible for deposits and withdrawals of money in the name of the organization.
The Secretary shall-
Keep a written record of meetings of the organization. The records, however, shall not be copied into the Secretary book until such time as they are legally accepted by the organization.
Have all amendments that are adopted by the organization recorded in the permanent record book and the current constitution.
Maintain organization history.
Maintain organization files.
Perform all other duties as generally devolve within that office.
The Sergeant-at-Arms shall-
Maintain an accurate roll of members and guests at all organization meetings and activities.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date phone list.
Assist President in maintaining orderly run meetings.
Assess demerits and/or fines to members acting inappropriate at organization meetings or activities.
Assist President in collecting and tallying votes.
Maintain organization's membership applications.
Article V
Organization and Affiliations
Section A. Symbols-The symbol shall be a span bridge with two high towers and two large square exposed footings (piers), with the Associated General Contractors of America and the American Institute of Constructors acronyms inside the footings.
Section B. Colors-The colors of the organization shall be forest green, silver and white.
Section C. Affiliations
The organization shall be affiliated and remain in good standing with the AGC and AIC.
The organization shall provide both professional societies with the necessary paperwork on a timely basis.
Article VI
Meetings
Section A. Time and Place
At least one meeting shall be held every other week throughout the academic year. The place and hour of the meetings shall be determined by the organization.
Organization meetings may be cancelled by the President, with the approval of the Executive Committee.
Section B. Order of Business
Call to order by the President
Roll call by the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Minutes from the last meeting read by the Secretary.
Treasurer's report.
Vice President's report.
Committee Chairpersons' reports.
Old business.
New business.
Announcements.
Section C. Special Meetings-Special meetings may be called by the President of the organization after consulting with the Executive Committee. Special meetings may also be called by a 1/3 vote of the active members, regardless of the President's wishes.
Section D. Quorum-The majority of the active members of the organization shall constitute a quorum to do business.
Section E. Executive Committee-The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms and shall act in the organization's name at special meetings at which no quorum is present.
Article VII
Amendments
Section A. Amendments to the Constitution-This constitution may be amended at any regular business meeting of the organization by a 2/3 vote of the active members on the Sergeant-at-Arms roll; provided that the proposed amendment has been read aloud at the preceding regular business meeting by the President.
Section B. Adoption of By-Laws-The by-laws of the organization may be adopted at any regular business meeting by a majority vote of the active members present; provided that the proposed by-laws have been read aloud at the preceding regular business meeting by the President. After the by-laws have been adopted, they shall be amended only in accordance with the provisions set forth in the by-laws.
BY-LAWS
of the
EASTERN CONSTRUCTORS-STUDENTS OF EXCELLENCE
Article 1
Fees, Dues, Assessments and Penalties
Section A. The initial fee shall be $5.00.
Section B. The dues of the organization shall be $15.00 per active member.
Section C. Special Assessments may be made by order of the Executive Committee, with a majority vote by the members present at a regular business meeting.
Section D. Unexcused Absence(s) from a regular meeting is one that has not been approved by an Executive Committee member prior to the meeting in question.
Section A. Stand Committee Officers shall be: Alumni Relations, Financial, Public Relations, Recruitment, Scholarship and Social.
Section B. Election and Tenure-Standing Committee Officers shall be elected according to Article IV, Section B of the Constitution.
Section C. Eligibility-See Article IV, Section C of the Constitution.
Section D. Vacancies-See Article IV, Section D of the Constitution.
Section E. Impeachment-See Article IV, Section E of the Constitution.
Section F. Duties of the Standing Committee Officers
Alumni Relations Chairperson
Carry on necessary correspondence with alumni in the name of the active organization.
Be required to send out at least one newsletter per academic semester with the guidance of the Faculty of Construction Management.
Keep the Alumni directory current with University Development Office.
Give a report at each business meeting.
Assist Scholarship Chairperson in planning and coordinating Golf Outing.
Financial Chairperson
Responsible for coordination fund raisers for organization.
Give a report at each business meeting.
Maintain and be accountable for organization paraphernalia.
Public Relations Chairperson
Give publicity to organization functions when necessary. This would include putting article in the Echo as well as other newspapers or publications.
Give a report at each meeting.
Be responsible for maintaining and improving the image of the organization with respect to the University and the community.
Recruitment Chairman
Be responsible to coordinate booth space or similar needs for all open houses, etc. related to the recruitment of prospective members for the organization and/or students for the Construction Management program.
Keep the organization aware of the need to seek out prospective organization members.
Prepare the certificates of new members and AGC cards upon acceptance by the Executive Committee and organize the Formal Initiation at the following business meeting.
Give a report at each regular business meeting.
Scholarship Chairperson
Direct, coordinate and delegate annual Golf Outing sponsoring the Dr. John Weeks, AIC Scholarship.
Give a report at each regular business meeting.
Distribute AGC and other scholarship information when applicable.
Social Chairperson
Coordinate all social activities for the organization.
Coordinate all intramural athletic activities.
Appoint all coaches.
Attend meeting for intramural managers.
Give a report at each regular business meeting.
See to the acquiring of awards and plaques for the annual banquet.
Article III
Membership
Section A. Recruitment program shall follow the guidelines set by the University.
Section B. Formal Initiation will take place at the next regular business meeting following approval by 4/5 of the Executive Committee.
Section C. Inactive Membership
A member who believes that active participation in organization affairs is impossible for him or her may apply for inactive membership by:
Submitting a written request to the organization stating his or her reasons for requesting inactive membership.
Having all dues, assessments, fines and fees paid in full up to the time at which the letter is accepted.
Letters of request for inactive membership will be:
Read by the President at the first regular meeting after receipt of the letter.
Voted on for acceptance at the next regularly scheduled meeting following the reading, with a 3/4 vote of the members present required for acceptance.
An inactive member may return to active status by:
Submitting a letter of intent to the President.
Resuming payment of dues, fees and assessments.
If an inactive member wishes to take part in an organization special function, he or she may do so by payment of any assessment or fee attached to that particular function.
Section D. In such cases where actual membership is impossible in this organization, a person may be presented with an honorary membership. Since this membership is honorary and to retain the prestige of such membership, selection of candidates should be carefully thought out and limited in number. Procedure is as follows:
Any member may propose a person for honorary membership at any regular meeting of the organization.
The organization will vote on the proposal at the next regular business meeting.
A 3/4 vote of the active members present at the meeting will constitute acceptance.
Honorary members will be notified by the President of their acceptance and presented with a scroll of membership.
Section E. Suspended Membership-Any member of the organization, who through their actions, brings dishonor to the Organization, or who in any way reduces markedly the prestige of the organization shall be subject to suspension.
The President shall present the name or names of member(s) up for suspension to the organization at any regular scheduled or special meeting of the organization.
At the same time, the President shall prescribe the period of suspension.
Voting on suspension shall take place at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
A majority vote of the active members present at the meeting shall be sufficient to support recommendation of the President.
A letter will be sent to the suspended member informing him or her of their suspension, their loss of rights, as outlined in the Constitution and their right to appeal the decision.
Return to active membership will be as follows:
A suspended member will automatically return to active status at the end of the suspension period.
Subsequent to completion of the suspension period, a member may petition the organization for active status if he or she has completed the minimum suspension period.
A majority vote of the active members present at the meeting shall be required to accept the petition for reinstatement to active status.
Petition for active status can be submitted only once each school term.